The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-04-22
TIE SCULPTOR's CHRIST.
Sfory-s Statue an Original and Bcaurf.
ful Conception.

Sfory's Statue an Original and Beauff
ful Conception.
Story's last statue, a Christ, is an origi
nal and beautiful conception. The dres.
is that of an Arab: the cetoneth or under
garment, rich and full, bound round tht
waist with a soft sash. and the neil, al
upper one, a mantle, which was the seam.
less garment we read that our Lord wore
/ On the head is the kiffyeh or scarf, bound
around by fillet, which foims a soft Wis
or-lil1e framing above the brow: the ends
of this kiffyeh fall over the shoulders
and cover the lone hair which you see IN
der the shadow of its folds; this is the nap
/ kin, as the English translation Of the Bible
/ calls it, which WAS taken off, folded and
laid beside our Lord in the grave. This
costume is most effective, for it has the
rich, deep folds of the Oriental quadrangle
lar mantle, and is probably exactly the
dress our Saviour wore.
The person is that Of a Young man, tall,
thin, but not emaciated. The right hand
is extended as ii summoning you to ap-
proaeh. The left hand rests gently on the
drapery Of the breast. They are long,
slender, refined, oriental hands, modelled
with feeling and delicacy The face is
sin1ularly tender and noble handsome.
with fine brow and beautiful features.
The eyes have wonderful outlook. spirit
nal, and as if they saw far beyond mortal
gaze The expression OF the face is united
to that Of the outstrctehed. pleading, earn
est hands The words. Come unto me ".
who are weary and heavy laden and yc
shall find rest, seem to be uttered by the
lips. and yet the intense sadness OF the face
is as if he had little hope that humanity
would listen to the call.
.'foe HAVE SEEN HIN
| sat some time the other afternoon look
ing at this impressive statue Ave Ma
ria sounded. and the late afternoon shad-
ows gathered into the studio The half
lights gave the figure Of the young Mes
siah startling likeness to life. spoke.
thinking aloud "And SO he may have
looked. =
1T ought to look like him. for have
seen him, said the sculptor quietly.
| started, and turned to know If | had
heard the words or had dreamed them
Yes. - repeated Story calmly, lighting
fresh cigarette; yes. and will tell you
how it was. 1t happened when | was
going in the hourly, as the coach was
called that ran in those days every hour be-
tween Boston and Cambridge. for it was
Ion. before the time of the omnibus and
horse ear. OF course, | mean dreamed
was in the coach II was. as all dreams
are, at once strange and prosaie. Soon
after got outside the coach, and we had
stated, l suddenly became aware that
Christ was seated outside with the driyerl
Ny fist impulse was TO touch him; So |
leaned ont and rested my hand on his gar
ments, when | fit sure it was Christ.
When the coach reached the half way house
at Cambridgeport, every one got ont, and
Christ also. I did not, but sat looking
upon him as he walked TO and fro. There
were ordinary, common people about, and
the natural prosaic actions of such a place
going on. | was aware that no one but
myself saw that strange being in oriental
garments, moving with stately steps back
ward and forward in front of the busy lit
tie crowd which assemblies at half way
house when a stage arrives. But that did
not seem strange to me. nor was | surpris-
ed at his dress, SO unlike anything had
ever looked on, for at that time | was not
familiar with the Arab costume; simply
thought, There is Christ and every sense
in my body was alive.
.'Then came the hustle OF starting. and
then the whole dream ended--the vision
disappeared, For years and years that APP
pearance has haunted me, and over and
over again ! have tried to give form and
shape to that face and person, which | saw
as plainly as | see you now
No wonder, with the vivid memory of
that marvellous vision, our celebrated
sculptor has been able to give us such a
noble semblance of the Divine Master
Rome Cor litter Ocean.